Download PDF The Girl in the Painting A heartbreaking historical novel of family secrets betrayal and love edition by Renita D'Silva Literature Fiction eBooks

Product details File Size 3232 KB Print Length 498 pages Publisher Bookouture (April 11, 2019) Publication Date April 11, 2019 Sold by  Digital Services LLC Language English ASIN B07MK2TNMC

The Girl in the Painting A heartbreaking historical novel of family secrets betrayal and love edition by Renita D'Silva Literature Fiction eBooks Reviews

• I absolutely *loved* The Girl in the Painting, a phenomenal book, quite possibly Renita D’Silva’s best yet! Tragic but uplifting. Heartbreaking yet heartwarming. A book I could not put down, but also a story I didn’t want to end. It broke my heart, made me think about the fragility and ironies of life, all the while empathizing with characters that felt like relatives by the end.
  
  The Girl in the Painting is an epic tome, intricately weaved through generations, innocence unraveling bit by bit, from early 20th Century London and India to the year 2000. From the prologue you know the seemingly separate tales of Margaret and Archana will intersect, but the question is how. Watching the author slowly peel back the layers, revealing the interconnectedness of the various storylines with delicacy and precision, is one of my favorite things about her writing. Unlike a crime thriller where, as a reader, you’re trying to guess the killer’s identity from the get-go, or you’re simply reading through to get to the twist you know is coming, reading a Renita D’Silva book is a unique treat; a journey as much as a destination. I find myself not wanting to rush it. I don’t want to figure everything out. I want to behold her brilliance, uncoiling each mystery and twist at the appropriate moment, exactly where she intends for the lightbulb to go off. It’s a thing of storytelling beauty, and bearing witness to subplots harmonizing in unexpected ways is a thrill, delivered most satisfyingly after the tension and suspense have been built. When the storylines finally converge, and you find out how Margaret and Archana are connected for example, it’s jaw dropping.
  
  Even early on, when you’re meeting Margaret, Winnie, Archana, and Radha, among others, as children, and being introduced to the setting, I was riveted. Part of that is my experience with and excitement about Renita D’Silva’s books, and the understanding that she has something very special planned for the reader. But the other is her writing, which as always, is superb. I cannot name another author who does a better job transporting the reader directly into the story by engaging his/her tastes, smells, sounds, sights, and imagination. In particular, the scenes in India are always such a delight to read and dammit if I don’t go and make myself some cardamom tea or something when I’m reading them. I’m craving Indian food mid story because I can taste it. The language is atmospheric and I found myself right beside the characters the whole way.
  
  Far from just a fascinating tale of intrigue, betrayal, love and loss, The Girl in the Painting is imbued with deeper meaning and symbolism throughout. This is a story about women’s rights, and the plight of women throughout history. It’s one thing to learn about sati in a history book, and something entirely different to feel the absolute terror of it through the characters, in the way only a novel can accomplish. It’s about racism, and classism, and the horrors of war, which leave permanent damage reverberating for generations. I loved the ubiquity and symbolism of fire, and how Margaret was tormented by it her whole life, just as her comfort was always threatened by the risk of a catastrophic change which could occur at any time in a flash.
  
  One of my favorite things about historical fiction is the extra layer to the reader’s suspension of disbelief. A good writer can pull it off no matter the genre, but with Renita’s storytelling, her true-to-life characters, and her comingling of historical and fictional events, I 100% believed that The Girl in the Painting was a real story and that Margaret, Archana, Suraj, Emma and others actually existed. This book really illustrates the beauty of historical fiction. If crime thrillers are a California cabernet that may or may not come in a twist off cap, historical fiction is red burgundy—understated, sophisticated, perhaps not for the masses but what experienced oenophiles drink.
  
  Creating believable characters who are well developed and behave consistently, while still being fallibly human, is difficult enough in one discrete time period. But doing it at various and disparate stages of their lives requires mastery and a deep understanding of human behavior. Renita creates heroes with flaws, and villains with strengths, and exquisitely makes you question which they are, which is so much like real life. The course of the relationship between Margaret and Suraj was so believable, and it beautifully captured the fragility and transience of love, no matter how strong. As agonizing as it was, it was also one of my favorite parts of the book. Simple moments like Margaret awkwardly standing outside the door worrying about whether Vanessa Bell would even remember her invitation to the Bloomsbury Group were so relatable and exactly what I would have been thinking. The entire book is flush with small but masterful details in which I could feel what the characters were experiencing in a way that didn’t just put me beside them, it put me inside them. This is writing perfection.
  
  As a huge fan of Renita’s, it’s hard not to have lofty expectations for each new release, but she never disappoints, and in this case even exceeded expectations. The Girl in the Painting is a book that left me shook and will stay with me for a long time.
• More amazing writing by Renita. I couldn't put it down. The plot is spun as a spider spins his web. Fascinating! Their is a little sex and one adultery scene. I think it's free of profanity (very little). I wouldn't recommend to a young teen .
• I have read several books by this author and I always bring the box of tissues with me when I begin reading her books. I love reading history and especially like India during the British Raj. This is a read.
• The is by far the best book I’ve read so far this year. Such an amazing story of life, love, heartbreak and forgiveness, beautifully written. It truly transported me from England to India and back again. Bravo!!
• Quite possibly one of the best historical books I've read so far this year!
  I LOVED this book. It was so hard to put down. I wanted to keep reading it til the end but yet I didn't want the end to come. You spend so much time with these characters they feel like family. You know their thoughts before they think them.
  Starting out in early twentieth century London and India to 2000. So it is a bit of a time travel but most of the book is spent in the past. My heart is hurting for these characters . The ultimate betrayal changes more lives than two. Heartbreaking for sure but this book was so fascinating.
  Emma must go to India for her grandmother, Margaret who moved there from London during the early 1900's to marry the Indian man she met in London. Going to India was a huge culture change for Margaret. I could very easily picture myself in India from the descriptions, the food,homes,the overwhelming poverty and the absolute dislike of the white woman marrying the Indian man especially since his parents arranged for him to be married to another Indian woman and he goes against it to pick his own bride that is not one of their own.
  There is much celebration when she falls pregnant and her husband is so looking forward to their child. In India, Archana plays a huge role in Margaret's life and she has her own story as well that intertwines greatly with Margaret's. Such tragedy and sadness in both of their lives but yet hope,forgiveness and redemption in this book. This book reads like one of those fabulous miniseries, after all it is 498 pages so it has a lot of material to cover. So many emotions at work here. You'll run through all of them with this book so do have the tissues ready.
  This is my first read by this author and I already can't wait to dive into another by her.
  Publication Date April 11, 2019.
  I was given a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. Thank you. All opinions expressed are my own.